Chapter Text
"Something's coming, something hungry for blood." Mike spoke softly as he sat behind his beaten manual; full of years of love and care. We were all on the edge of our seats at this point, my fingers idly tapping at the table. The smell of what was now stale pizza almost distracting my thoughts, almost. "A shadow grows on the wall behind you, swallowing you in darkness. It is almost here." He continued, Dustin wiping away at his nose with a little bit of dramatic flair for the affect of the campaign. I almost snorted out loud, until Will spoke up with an excited but anxious gasp.
"What is it?" He piped, Dustin immediately shooting him a wide glance.
"What if it's the Demogorgon?" he breathed shakily, I scowled at that.
"Dustin-" I huffed out, him ignoring me promptly. I rolled my eyes back over, crossing my arms against my chest.
"We're in deep shit if it's the Demogorgon-" He gaped, his hand pressing against his forehead in dismay.
Lucas snapped at him, "It's not the Demogorgon!" His expression reciting annoyance. Mike seemed to watch, his eyes flicking between us all as he reached for something behind his manual, slamming it down in front of us. The table shook with it, the dice rolling about an inch towards Will.
"An army of Troglodytes charge into the chamber!" Mike would gaze between us again, expectantly. His dark eyes pooling as they met mine, "Uhuh." I hummed, crossing my arms.
Lucas smugly sneered at Dustin, a triumphant glow on his face. They snorted together, it was a light-hearted gesture. I nudged Will, who offered me a soft but sure smile.
"Easy, yeah?" I snickered to him, Will nodding back as the tension in his shoulders eased, "Definitely." The moment didn't last long as Mike drawled, his gaze dragging down.
"Wait a minute.. Did you hear that?" He peered over himself, "That.. That sound.." All of us swallowed heavily at that, I spoke too soon about it being easy, a curse on myself, truly. "Boom.. Boom.." Mike's voice growing louder as he peered back to us, "Boom!" His hands slamming against the table. I nearly fell out of my seat, a choking noise escaping my throat. Will stifled a smile at that, watching as I straightened myself back up.
"That didn't come from the Troglodtyes. No, that.. that came from something else." Mike stared back up at us, each of us leaning in now to crane our necks forward in anticipation. We waited, silent.. If I could read minds, I would've bet all my quarters that Mike was internally laughing at the tension he was creating. "The Demogorgon!" He yelled, placing the figure down but not as harshly as he did before. We all groaned, my head rolling on my shoulders. "Shit," I muttered, "That's just.. Shit."
Dustin grumbled in agreement, "Deep shit!" He threw his hand. Mike didn't offer us more time to react, he was already calling on Will to act. I watched as he helplessly panicked, "Fireball him!" Lucas pressured.
I frowned, "Lucas-" I tried to intervene, the dice weren't on our side tonight. "I'd have to roll a thirteen or higher." Will spoke in dismay, his lips curving into a frown.
"Too risky, cast protection!" Dustin retorted back immediately. I breathed out with annoyance, Lucas already pressing it further with a snide comment. "Don't be a pussy! Fireball him!" I just about threw that damn stale pizza slice.
Dustin and Lucas went back and forth relentlessly, Will not finding any help there. I started reaching out my hand to comfortingly place upon his shoulder, Mike's booming voice catching me off guard. "The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering! It stomps towards you. Boom!" The chaos ensued, I was digging my fingers into my legs at this point in a mixture of emotions. I wanted nothing more than to have the answers, but being who I was, I didn't.
"Fireball!" Will shot forward across the table, the dice flying out. We all scattered to our feet, cursing. "Find the dice!" I squirmed out from my chair, throwing myself face first to the floor of Mike's basement. Dustin stood around, pacing to himself and panicking, "Dustin, stop flipping out!" I hissed, my cheek pressed to the floor as I searched.
"Mike!" Mike's mother, Karen, had called multiple times at this point. Her tone grew impatient, opening the basement door to see the scene before her. I lifted myself up from the floor, looking to her atop the stairs.
She repeated herself, Mike finally looking at her with exasperation. "Mom," He started with a tone that'd get me grounded, "We're in the middle of a campaign!" His mom didn't seem to care. "You mean the end? Fifteen after." She pointedly spoke, walking away without a moment to argue. I rolled my eyes as Mike scampered up the stairs, I made my way towards Will who was looking around a corner.
"Any luck?" I muttered, Will returning a reluctant shake of his head. "No- Wait!" He stumbled forward, snatching something. "I got it! Does a seven count?" He turned to me, hopeful in gaze and tone.
I grimaced, I didn't have the heart to say no. "Mike will be the one to tell that," I shoved the duty of that burden onto Mike without him knowing. It seemed to satisfy Will who nodded, reaching for his bag in the same corner. I reluctantly went upstairs, the sounds of the Wheeler family were comforting. It was always a home away from home to me.
I followed everyone else outside, my hands gripping my bike handles as I took a prompt seat up on it. Dustin followed a moment after, complaining about Mike's uptight sister and eating that stale pizza. Old meat on old cheese on old tomato sauce, appetizing.. I looked to Will, "I'll see you, kay?" I hummed a little joyfully.
Will returned the soft tone, "Yeah!" A smile forming upon his face.
I turned to meet Mike's owl-eyed gaze. "The campaign was good. You really outdid yourself." My tone holding a genuine compliment, he seemed to stutter a moment at that. "Yeah? Too bad we couldn't finish it."
Shrugging in response I spoke, "We will. It's worth it." Mike seemed to brighten, "Night." He nodded to me as I started pedaling off. I waved a hand behind me briskly, "Night!"
I took a separate route home, riding in comforting silence in the familiar cold night of Hawkins. My home was just ahead, a comfortable trailer on the water, away from most folk. Riding past my dad's truck, I put my bike up in the makeshift bike rack I insisted on using. Fumbling with the house keys, I unlocked the door, dark. I could faintly hear my dad breathing on the couch, cluttered and unkempt. My eyes softened before I walked past, ignoring him and hauling myself in my room. By morning, he was gone already, along with his truck. Sometimes, he wasn't here at all.
The bike ride to school wasn't ever lonely, everyday the party would meet up in my driveway. Today, Will was missing. "Where's Will?" I questioned, approaching them on my bike as it dragged against gravel. An annoying feeling.
"Probably at school already, went to class early again." Lucas shrugged it off, I was too tired to press the discussion further. Once we'd arrive, Mike was the first to notice his absence still, Lucas giving the same explanation. Before we could go further with that topic, a voice behind us let out.
"Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! Step right up and get your tickets for the freak show." Troy snickered, his voice almost shrill like a banshee.
"Who do you think would make more money at a freak show," He approached. I stood, letting out a silent puff of pure annoyance.
"Midnight?" He punched his fist into Lucas who only stared with thoughts that probably went along the lines of 'seriously?'
"Frogface?" He punched Mike a little harder, making him stumble on his feet back a bit before catching himself.
I grimaced at it uncomfortably, his fist connecting to my chest next. "The fairy?" He sneered at me, I knew what it actually meant. But I wasn't a fool, I knew better to bite my tongue. "Or Toothless?"
His lacky seemed to really think, looking at us like we were slim pickings. His eyes stayed on Dustin, "I'd go with Toothless." He spit. I was drowning out the conversation, my fingers clenching into my palms as I spaced out. Mike's gaze flickered towards me, I didn't see that. The only thing catching me out of this moment was the both of them knocking into us to pass through, my eyes blinking me out from my thoughts.
"Pricks," I muttered under my breath. Rocks kicked from underneath my shoes, an unrecognizable tormented anger pooled in my stomach pit.
All of class, I sat, flicking my pencil against my desk with thoughts swarming against the front of my head. Mike's small psst catching my attention, his gaze full of worry behind the usual snarky look. "You good?" He hissed under his breathe, gesturing to my pencil.
I reluctantly let myself breathe out, "Yeah, just.. I hate them." I grinded my teeth. Mike blinked in understanding, "Yeah, assholes.." He muttered back before hesitantly whispering again. "Ignore them, they're just unhappy with their lives. Or whatever." He brushed it off, seemingly unsure what exactly to say.
That made me smile, "Very unhappy." I snickered back. Mike snorted in return, class ending shortly after our secret conversation. We all stumbled towards Mr. Clarke, awaiting expectantly as my fingers drummed against my backpack straps. "Well?" I bit my lip trying to hide my hopeful smile.
"Did it come?" Mike pressed. Mr. Clarke feigned disappointment, "Sorry boys.. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but.." He paused, I immediately slumped forward, shoulders sagging. "It came!" I almost smacked the son of a bitch.
We piled into the A.V room, giddy as could be as Mike took the seat promptly. I almost drooled at the mouth, I hadn't been this excited for anything since our first D&D campaign that took Mike months to even prepare. "The Heathkit ham shack, ain't she a beaut?" Mr. Clarke folded his arms, proud like a southern farmer showing off his cattle. I was grinning like an idiot, my hands touching the device without knowing what to do with myself. This was better than Christmas.
"Could you talk to Australia on it?" Dustin eagerly asked, already aiming for the stars.
Mr. Clarke nodded, clearly prideful. Lucas started beaming, "Oh man! When Will sees this, he's totally gonna blow his shit-" He grinned ear to ear. That earned a stern look from Mr. Clarke who looked like he just was personally insulted, "Lucas!" He sounded in disbelief. I held back a snort, pursing my lips inwardly as I avoided the gaze Mr. Clarke gave me for that. Mike tuned the machine, speaking into the mic with what wasn't the worst Australian accent I'd heard, not that I've heard many to begin with. Dustin snatched the headphones, offering a worse one, I groaned at it.
"Dustin.. My ears." I hacked, listening as he asked if they ate kangaroos for breakfast. The thought was traumatizing, I almost let out a choked sob. Before we could play with it more, the principal sharply knocked at the club door. My eyes shot up, taking in the sight of not only the principal, but my father.
A cold anxiety started freezing itself in my chest, "Sorry to interrupt," The principal tried to sound casual, it was too forced. "But, uh, may I borrow the boys?" He pointed at the four of us like we weren't the only ones in the room. We collectively blinked like a group of frogs before being taken into his office where we were sat, and questioned about Will. Will.
I sat smooshed against Mike, silent as my gaze didn't meet the chief's. Couldn't meet the chief's. He looked at me as his son, not as a student he sought answers from. Everyone stumbled over words, Mike repeating himself over Mirkwood, Mirkwood, Mirkwood, Mirkwood. The chief let out an annoyed grumble, "Okay! Okay okay," He raised a hand. "One at a time, alright?" His tone steady now as he looked pointedly at me. "You."
I felt my neck rise with heat, of course my dad would put me on the spotlight. "Mirkwood, Mike was saying he takes Mirkwood." I cleared my throat, gesturing to Mike who's shoulder was so far pressed into mine we could be conjoined twins.
The chief raised an eyebrow, looking to the officer with him, the one I knew as Callahan. "You ever heard of Mirkwood?" He questions him, to which of course, Callahan dismisses. "It's Lord of the Rings," Lucas nodded, trying to explain.
"The Hobbit-" Dustin pointedly corrected him. It earned an irritated scowl from Lucas, starting an argument.
Mike shook his head as I only rolled my eyes, the chief sitting forwardly. "Hey, hey, hey! What'd I just say?" He spoke, Dustin and Lucas pulling from their bickering. "One at a damn time," He grumbled, sitting forward. "You." He gestured to Mike this time, a feeling of relief washing over me. Mike glanced at me, seeming to notice.
"Mirkwood's a real road, it's just a made up name for it. It's where Cornwallis meets Kerley." He corrected himself from earlier, I watched as my dad let out a breath he was holding, sitting back, mumbling. "We can show you if you want!" Mike quickly offered, which was returned with a quick snap from the chief. "I said that I know it."
I finally looked at my dad, gaze anything but steady in the moment. "We can help!" I pleaded with him, fingers twitching into fists on my legs.
"No." He shot me down, tone stern and harsh. I almost physically flinched at it, "After school, you are all to go home." His hard gaze was set onto me specifically, he was telling me this. "That means no bikin' around, lookin' for your friend, no investigating, no nonsense." I opened my mouth to protest at his words, but bit them down before I could even say a syllable. "This isn't some Lord of the Rings book."
"The Hobbit.." Dustin muttered, earning a smack from Lucas. I sat silently and tormentedly, Mike seeming to glance at me again as the chief stood from the chair, towering over us.
"Do I make myself.. clear?" He looked down on us, his brows furrowed and raised. A shared nod came from all of us, clearly not wanting to pick a further fight with him about this. Not here, not now at least. As soon as we were dismissed and let out from the torturous tensions of the principals office Lucas had nudged me in the arm, firm but softly. "Dude, your dad's a dick!" He protested without any harsh undertones.
"Yeah, I know, try living with him." A mutter as I stuffed my hands deep into my pockets, grinding my teeth together.
"Remind me why he's chief again?" Dustin raised an eyebrow, teasingly grinning.
"Because he's the only one who wanted the job?" I shrugged, not really seeming to care. I didn't, that's what I told myself. Mike was silent throughout, it was almost uncharacteristic.
At home that night I sat in my room, gazing over every decoration, every little knick-knack, poster, doodle, whatever I had. A safe space away from whatever was held out of the door. Staring at my ceiling, I only hummed to myself. Glow in the dark stars scattered across it like a freckled galaxy, Mike helped put them up last summer. He said they would make my room less.. dark. I simply stared up, counting each one like a fragment, as if they'd make something if they were put together.
My thoughts weren't there for a long, ripped away at the sound of the walkie-talkie on my bedside table staticing itself to life. "Hopper? It's Mike, you copy?" Speak of the devil. And of course, heaven forbid he ever use my first name.
I rolled my eyes, lazily snatching it, pressing a finger onto the button. "Yes, over." I hummed into it, resting it on my chest.
"I'm worried about Will, over.." His voice was softer than I'd heard it in a bit, my eyebrows raising at that. "Yeah, me.. me too." I quietly admitted like a well guarded secret, sitting up, "Over."
"I was thinking.. Will could've cast protection, but.. He cast fireball. Over." Mike's voice was thoughtful, an idea was in his big brain, clearly. I took a moment to respond, pondering on that thought.
"Yeah, he.. Yeah. He sacrificed his safety for the party." A quiet huff as I drew my gaze to my window, fingers tightening around the walkie. I'm so dead.
"Meet me in fifteen, over and out!" I chucked it onto my bed, scrounging through underneath my bed for my old bag, and flashlights that were police graded. Ones I definitely didn't steal from my dad. I looked back at my bedroom door, throwing any fear of whatever he'd say out the window, literally. I hauled myself through it, scampering for my bike before pedaling off into the night. I didn't bother with how gloomy the clouds looked, I kept pushing until Mike almost crashed into me from around the corner.
"I said fifteen!" I sputtered, knocking myself onto the ground and into the gravel.
"Yeah well, that's too long!" He huffed back, putting his bike down to help me back up. I dusted myself off, shooting him a 'yeah, whatever' look. He stood for a moment longer than needed before getting back on his, "Sorry that the chief's.. yeah." He looked towards the road, then back to me with what felt like a sympathetic blink.
"It's fine, Wheeler." I snarked on his name, a jab at the fact he refers to me as Hopper more often than not. It gained a playful smirk, "Okay Hopper." He bit back, no real bite to it.
Lucas and Dustin trailed behind, the cue to set off for Mirkwood. As soon as we'd arrive, thunder was crackling above our heads. Dustin grimaced, pulling to an unsteady stop. "I think it's raining, this isn't the right search party weather. Let's go back-" He tried to sound as convincing as he could muster up.
"No!" Mike was firm with that, leaving no room for argument.
I patted Dustin's shoulder, "Stick together like bread and butter." I nodded to him, which seemed to offer no comfort. "Stay on channel six, don't do anything stupid either." Mike ordered, the party's leader expressing his true capabilities.
Thunder rumbled as we entered the dense forest, dark, and now raining. I shielded myself from it however I could, holding out my flashlight as my shoulder bumped against Mike's. "Will? I've got your X-Men! One-thirty-four!" Dustin called out, I mouthed the phrase in question, wondering why he had Will's X-Men comics. I'd ask later, when we'd find him.
We continued on, Dustin looking as if he was going to burst straight into tears any moment. "Guys, we should turn back..!" He whimpered out, teeth chattering.
Lucas whirled around, "Go home if you wanna be a big baby!" He snapped, Dustin retorting with how he was being realistic. They argued for what felt like the thirtieth time today alone..
"You ever think.. Will went missing because he saw something, ran into something bad? And now we're going out here without any like, weapons or anything?!" Dustin pleaded. I paled at the mere thought, more so because I wouldn't want Will to be hurt.
Mike's brows furrowed, waving his hand, shushing us. I watched with a curious, but now anxious gaze. Twigs snapping and leaves crackling making us all jump in multiple directions, Dustin was practically latching himself onto my arm for dear life like I'd be able to somehow protect him. We whirled around in every direction, gasping in fear at every noise. A scream, or what sounded like one, we snapped towards it.
What we saw wasn't ever what we expected.. There stood an almost bald girl, in a what I'd say was an unflattering yellow shirt. Soaking, and staring at us like a fawn who's too scared to move. "What-" I breathed out in disbelief.